Silk Fibroin: A Promising Tool for Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration

Silk is a functional protein biomaterial produced by a variety of insects like flies, silkworms, scorpions, spiders, and mites. Silk synthesized by silkworms is extensively studied for its applications in tissue engineering and wound healing. Silk is undoubtedly a natural biocompatible material with humans and has its role in medical treatments from ancient times. The silk worm protein comprises two types of proteins namely fibroin and sericin. Silk fibroin makes up approximately 70% of cocoon weight and has wide applications in textiles and in all biomedical applications owing to its biocompatible, nontoxic, biodegradable, less immunogenic, and noncarcinogenic nature. It possesses outstanding toughness and mechanical strength, while silk sericin possesses high defensive ability against ultraviolet light and oxidation. Silk fibroin has been known to induce wound healing by increasing cell proliferation and growth and migrating various types of cells which are involved in different stages of wound healing process. With several silk varieties like silk worm fibroin, silk sericin, recombinant silk materials, and native spider silk have been investigated for its wound healing applications over the last several decades. With an objective of harnessing the silk regenerative properties, plentiful strategies have been studied and applied to develop bioartificial skin grafts and bioactive wound dressings in recent times. This review gives a detailed insight into the structure, general properties, fibroin structure-properties relationship, and biomedical applications of silk fibroin.

Download Full-text

Efficiency Improvement of Gelatin-Based Wound Dressings by Silk Fibroin and Chitosan

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.995.97 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 995 ◽

pp. 97-102

Author(s):

Wassanai Wattanutchariya ◽

Kittiya Thunsiri ◽

Suwichchaya Puntawang

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Silk Fibroin ◽

Healing Process ◽

Fibrous Tissue ◽

Fibroblast Cell ◽

The Body ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Moisture Condition

Wound healing is a natural process of human body. When the wound size exceeds the critical point for naturally body healing, the fibrous tissue will play their parts and created a scar. Therefore, extra treatment has been added to eliminate the body limitations. Currently, there are a lot of commercial bioactive wound healing and dressing due to its physiological and biological abilities. In wound healing process, high moisture condition is also required. In order to accelerate the wound healing process, Tissue engineering (TE) is recommended. The increasing of cell proliferation by TE will be increased the chance for wound healing acceleration. In this study, the combination of Gelatin (Gel), Chitosan (CS) and Silk Fibroin (SF) were varied mixed in 10 ratios and fabricated the structure by lyophilisation technique. The elastic ability, biodegradability, structure and pore morphology, porosity, swelling ability, and biotoxicity were observed in each ratio. Gel provided highest elastic ability and biodegradability. The addition of SF and CS in Gel decreased biodegradation rate and activate fibroblast cell proliferation. Therefore, CS and SF could increase efficiency of gelatin-base wound dressings for a variety of utilization.

Download Full-text

Identifying New Pathways and Targets for Wound Healing and Therapeutics from Natural Sources

Current Drug Delivery ◽

10.2174/1567201818666210111101257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Xinchi Feng ◽

Jinsong Hao

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Wound Care ◽

Healing Process ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Natural Sources ◽

Viable Approach

: Chronic wounds remain a significant public problem and the development of wound treatments has been a research focus for the past few decades. Despite advances in the products derived from endogenous substances involved in a wound healing process (e.g. growth factors, stem cells, and extracellular matrix), effective and safe wound therapeutics are still limited. There is an unmet need to develop new therapeutics. Various new pathways and targets have been identified and could become a molecular target in designing novel wound agents. Importantly, many existing drugs that target these newly identified pathways could be repositioned for wound therapy, which will facilitate fast translation of research findings to clinical applications. This review discusses the newly identified pathways/targets and their potential uses in the development of wound therapeutics. Some herbs and amphibian skins have been traditionally used for wound repairs and their active ingredients have been found to act in these new pathways. Hence, screening these natural products for novel wound therapeutics remains a viable approach. The outcomes of wound care using natural wound therapeutics could be improved if we can better understand their cellular and molecular mechanisms and fabricate them in appropriate formulations, such as using novel wound dressings and nano-engineered materials. Therefore, we also provide an update on the advances in the wound therapeutics from natural sources. Overall, this review offers new insights into novel wound therapeutics.

Download Full-text

Bioactive Agent-Loaded Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Accelerating Healing Process: A Review

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11090702 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 702

Author(s):

Seyyed-Mojtaba Mousavi ◽

Zohre Mousavi Nejad ◽

Seyyed Alireza Hashemi ◽

Marjan Salari ◽

Ahmad Gholami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Healing Process ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Future Research ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Nanofiber Membranes ◽

Bioactive Agents ◽

Bioactive Agent

Despite the advances that have been achieved in developing wound dressings to date, wound healing still remains a challenge in the healthcare system. None of the wound dressings currently used clinically can mimic all the properties of normal and healthy skin. Electrospinning has gained remarkable attention in wound healing applications because of its excellent ability to form nanostructures similar to natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Electrospun dressing accelerates the wound healing process by transferring drugs or active agents to the wound site sooner. This review provides a concise overview of the recent developments in bioactive electrospun dressings, which are effective in treating acute and chronic wounds and can successfully heal the wound. We also discuss bioactive agents used to incorporate electrospun wound dressings to improve their therapeutic potential in wound healing. In addition, here we present commercial dressings loaded with bioactive agents with a comparison between their features and capabilities. Furthermore, we discuss challenges and promises and offer suggestions for future research on bioactive agent-loaded nanofiber membranes to guide future researchers in designing more effective dressing for wound healing and skin regeneration.

Download Full-text

Silk derived formulations for accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10232 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e10232

Author(s):

Muniba Tariq ◽

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir ◽

Samima Asad Butt ◽

Shaukat Ali ◽

Asma Bashir Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Silk Fibroin ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Histological Analysis ◽

Healing Process ◽

Aloe Vera ◽

Wound Contraction ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Control Group ◽

Diabetic Mice

Background The present study aimed to prepare effective silk derived formulations in combination with plant extract (Aloe vera gel) to speed up the wound healing process in diabetic mice. Methods Diabetes was induced in albino mice by using alloxan monohydrate. After successful induction of diabetes in mice, excision wounds were created via biopsy puncture (6 mm). Wound healing effect of silk sericin (5%) and silk fibroin (5%) individually and in combination with 5% Aloe vera gel was evaluated by determining the percent wound contraction, healing time and histological analysis. Results The results indicated that the best biocompatible silk combination was of 5% silk fibroin and 5% Aloe vera gel in which wounds were healed in 13 days with wound contraction: 98.33 ± 0.80%. In contrast, the wound of the control group (polyfax) healed in 19 day shaving 98.5 ± 0.67% contraction. Histological analysis revealed that the wounds which were treated with silk formulations exhibited an increased growth of blood vessels, collagen fibers, and much reduced inflammation. Conclusion It can be concluded that a combination of Bombyx mori silk and Aloe vera gel is a natural biomaterial that can be utilized in wound dressings and to prepare more innovative silk based formulations for speedy recovery of chronic wounds.

Download Full-text

Nanostructured Fibers Containing Natural or Synthetic Bioactive Compounds in Wound Dressing Applications

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13102407 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 2407 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alexa-Maria Croitoru ◽

Denisa Ficai ◽

Anton Ficai ◽

Natalia Mihailescu ◽

Ecaterina Andronescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Healing Process ◽

Electrospun Nanofibers ◽

Natural Compounds ◽

Electrospinning Process ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Skin Substitutes ◽

Bioactive Constituents ◽

Electrospinning Method

The interest in wound healing characteristics of bioactive constituents and therapeutic agents, especially natural compounds, is increasing because of their therapeutic properties, cost-effectiveness, and few adverse effects. Lately, nanocarriers as a drug delivery system have been actively investigated and applied in medical and therapeutic applications. In recent decades, researchers have investigated the incorporation of natural or synthetic substances into novel bioactive electrospun nanofibrous architectures produced by the electrospinning method for skin substitutes. Therefore, the development of nanotechnology in the area of dressings that could provide higher performance and a synergistic effect for wound healing is needed. Natural compounds with antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity in combination with nanostructured fibers represent a future approach due to the increased wound healing process and regeneration of the lost tissue. This paper presents different approaches in producing electrospun nanofibers, highlighting the electrospinning process used in fabricating innovative wound dressings that are able to release natural and/or synthetic substances in a controlled way, thus enhancing the healing process.

Download Full-text

Polymer-Based Materials Loaded with Curcumin for Wound Healing Applications

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12102286 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 2286 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sibusiso Alven ◽

Xhamla Nqoro ◽

Blessing Atim Aderibigbe

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Healing Process ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Microbial Invasion ◽

Good Biocompatibility

Some of the currently used wound dressings have interesting features such as excellent porosity, good water-absorbing capacity, moderate water vapor transmission rate, high drug loading efficiency, and good capability to provide a moist environment, but they are limited in terms of antimicrobial properties. Their inability to protect the wound from microbial invasion results in wound exposure to microbial infections, resulting in a delayed wound healing process. Furthermore, some wound dressings are loaded with synthetic antibiotics that can cause adverse side effects on the patients. Natural-based compounds exhibit unique features such as good biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, etc. Curcumin, one such natural-based compound, has demonstrated several biological activities such as anticancer, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Its good antibacterial and antioxidant activity make it beneficial for the treatment of wounds. Several researchers have developed different types of polymer-based wound dressings which were loaded with curcumin. These wound dressings displayed excellent features such as good biocompatibility, induction of skin regeneration, accelerated wound healing processes and excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activity. This review will be focused on the in vitro and in vivo therapeutic outcomes of wound dressings loaded with curcumin.

Download Full-text

Wearable Biosensors for Monitoring Wound Healing

Advances in Science and Technology ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ast.57.80 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

pp. 80-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Stéphanie Pasche ◽

Silvia Angeloni ◽

Réal Ischer ◽

Martha Liley ◽

Jean Luprano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Detection System ◽

Wearable Sensors ◽

Healing Process ◽

Optical Signal ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Novel Technology ◽

Inflammatory Proteins

Continuous health monitoring often requires hospitalization, which can become an expensive and inconvenient choice for the patient. In this perspective, wearable sensors that allow in situ biosensing constitute a very promising technology. This work aims to develop immunosensors for continuous monitoring of the wound healing process, based on pH changes, as well as on the concentrations of inflammatory proteins such as the C-reactive protein (CRP). Sensing principles include the use of responsive hydrogels that swell in response to changes in the surroundings, and the use of functional surfaces that specifically recognize the target protein. The detection principle is based on an optical signal, using the evanescent field of light propagating along a waveguide, probing refractive index changes. An optical sensing system that can be integrated in a wound dressing patch has been designed, including a white light source (LED), and a spectrometer for detection. The sensor was successfully tested in the laboratory with biological samples (blood serum), demonstrating reversible pH measurements between pH 6-8, and detection of changes in the concentration of CRP between 1 and 100 μg/ml. The sensor will later be integrated into wound dressings or bandages, forming a sensing patch that is connected via optical fibres and electrical wires to the detection system and power supply. This novel technology will be particularly valuable in applications such as the supervision of skin grafts and ulcer treatments.

Download Full-text

PVA-GELATIN HYDROGELS CONTAINING ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL FOR WOUND DRESSINGS

TEXTEH Proceedings ◽

10.35530/tt.2019.56 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 216-219

Author(s):

Denisa-Maria RADULESCU ◽

Diana-Elena RADULESCU ◽

Gabriela-Cristina CONSTANTINESCU ◽

Laura CHIRILA ◽

Alina POPESCU

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Healing Process ◽

Potential Method ◽

Point Of View ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Esterification Reaction ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Moist Environment ◽

Rosemary Essential Oil

Wound healing represents one of the most important processes evaluated in the biomedical field. In this regard, healing is defined as a dynamic and complex process in which the tissue integrity and the normal functions of the damaged tissue are restored. The purpose of this research was to achieve the main characteristics of an ideal wound dressing to prevent maceration, provide a moist environment, remove the exudate that is accumulated from the wound and to maintain a proper permeability to the wound bed. Different hydrogels were designed and developed through the esterification reaction of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with gelatin (GELL). The hydrogels were prepared in various weight ratios of PVA:GELL (4:1 and 1:4), by adding rosemary essential oil as an active compound. The incorporation of Rosemarinus officinalis L (rosemary) essential oil in PVA/GELL hydrogels represents a potential method for the improvement of the wound healing process. Further, the developed hydrogels were applied by immersion on cotton gauze. The synthetized specimens were evaluated from morphological and rheological point of view, by performing Optical Microscopy, fluid uptake ability and porosity measurements.

Download Full-text

Gelatin-Based Hybrid Scaffolds: Promising Wound Dressings

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13172959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 2959 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sindi P. Ndlovu ◽

Kwanele Ngece ◽

Sibusiso Alven ◽

Blessing A. Aderibigbe

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Healing Process ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Delayed Wound Healing

Wound care is a major biomedical field that is challenging due to the delayed wound healing process. Some factors are responsible for delayed wound healing such as malnutrition, poor oxygen flow, smoking, diseases (such as diabetes and cancer), microbial infections, etc. The currently used wound dressings suffer from various limitations, including poor antimicrobial activity, etc. Wound dressings that are formulated from biopolymers (e.g., cellulose, chitin, gelatin, chitosan, etc.) demonstrate interesting properties, such as good biocompatibility, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and attractive antimicrobial activity. Although biopolymer-based wound dressings display the aforementioned excellent features, they possess poor mechanical properties. Gelatin, a biopolymer has excellent biocompatibility, hemostatic property, reduced cytotoxicity, low antigenicity, and promotes cellular attachment and growth. However, it suffers from poor mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. It is crosslinked with other polymers to enhance its mechanical properties. Furthermore, the incorporation of antimicrobial agents into gelatin-based wound dressings enhance their antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. This review is focused on the development of hybrid wound dressings from a combination of gelatin and other polymers with good biological, mechanical, and physicochemical features which are appropriate for ideal wound dressings. Gelatin-based wound dressings are promising scaffolds for the treatment of infected, exuding, and bleeding wounds. This review article reports gelatin-based wound dressings which were developed between 2016 and 2021.

Download Full-text

Collagen-Based Nanofibers for Skin Regeneration and Wound Dressing Applications

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13244368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 4368

Author(s):

Zintle Mbese ◽

Sibusiso Alven ◽

Blessing Atim Aderibigbe

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Cellular Proliferation ◽

Healing Process ◽

Skin Regeneration ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Management ◽

Major Constituent ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Frequent Change

Skin regeneration after an injury is very vital, but this process can be impeded by several factors. Regenerative medicine is a developing biomedical field with the potential to decrease the need for an organ transplant. Wound management is challenging, particularly for chronic injuries, despite the availability of various types of wound dressing scaffolds in the market. Some of the wound dressings that are in clinical practice have various drawbacks such as poor antibacterial and antioxidant efficacy, poor mechanical properties, inability to absorb excess wound exudates, require frequent change of dressing and fails to offer a suitable moist environment to accelerate the wound healing process. Collagen is a biopolymer and a major constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM), making it an interesting polymer for the development of wound dressings. Collagen-based nanofibers have demonstrated interesting properties that are advantageous both in the arena of skin regeneration and wound dressings, such as low antigenicity, good biocompatibility, hemostatic properties, capability to promote cellular proliferation and adhesion, and non-toxicity. Hence, this review will discuss the outcomes of collagen-based nanofibers reported from the series of preclinical trials of skin regeneration and wound healing.

Download Full-text